Spanish pilots in russia

[HGabor]

Folks,

Along Celestino Martínez Fierros, the 989. ShAP has lost two more IL-2s on March 9, 1945. In fact they lost 3-3 IL-2s on both March 8 and 9, 1945:

March 8, 1945:

1. IL-2, Tactical marking: unknown, S/N: 10016, Engine No. 255509 – piloted by мл.л-т Горкин Иван Семенович – Kiskunlacháza airfield, belly landed after Belsőbáránd target
2. IL-2, Tactical marking: No.38, S/N: 11467, Engine No. unknown – piloted by мл.л-т Leoncio Velasco Hernans – Kiskunlacháza airfield, landing accident, due to flak after Belsőbáránd target
3. IL-2, Tactical marking: No.30, S/N: 11560, Engine No. 244184 – piloted by гв.мл.л-т Буряковский Иван Кириллович - Rácalmás-NW, 1-2 km (~Downed by Pottyondy László szds. (Bf 109G, Hungarian 101/8. squadron) at 16.34)

March 9, 1945:

1. IL-2, Tactical marking: No.19, S/N: 10586, Engine No. 256838 – piloted by л-т Celestino Martínez Fierros – Flak, Káloz area
2. IL-2, Tactical marking: unknown, S/N: 11395, Engine No. 251852 – piloted by мл.л-т Терешин Сергей Семенович - Pusztaszabolcs railway station-NW, 5 km (belly landed, - repaired later)
3. IL-2, Tactical marking: No.32, S/N: 11477, Engine No. 259391 – piloted by мл.л-т Нелазский Герман Васильевич – Flak, Káloz area

Soviet 17 VA has suffered heavy losses in March, 1945 in order to stop Germany’s last big Panzer (counter) offensive of WWII (“Frühlingserwachen”, - started on March 6, 1945) between Lake Balaton and Lake Velentsei.


(Altogether the 989. ShAP has lost 56 IL-2 Shturmoviks in Hungary, plus finally 2 more in Austria.)

Gabor